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ADUs are allowed in Winchester
Types:DetachedInternal

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Winchester, VA

Is your property eligible for an ADU?

# of Properties
9,149
Owner-occupied
58%
Zoning districts
17
Avg Home Value
$411,915
Median Lot Size
0.17 acres
Avg Income
$79,742
Residential Types:
9,149 housing units
Apts (4+ units)
2%
Other
98%
Zoning Districts:
10,328 parcels · 17 districts
MR
41%(4,262)
LR
16%(1,693)
HR1
10%(1,043)
HR
10%(1,001)
Other
23%(2,329)

ADU Rules

What can you build in Winchester, VA?

Winchester, VA follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.

Max Units

  • –1 ADU per two-family dwelling
  • –0 accessory two-family dwellings in cottage housing developments

Owner Occupancy

  • –Owner-occupancy required for the ADU.

Rental Restrictions

  • –Short-term rentals for ADUs prohibited; STRs limited to single-family homes and townhouses; detached ADU not listed as eligible.
  • –Homeshare not allowed in separate accessory units; owner must reside on-site when renting (applies to rooms within owner-occupied dwelling, not detached ADU).

ADU State Law

What can you build in Virginia?

  • –Virginia does not have a statewide ADU mandate; ADU rules are set by individual municipalities.
  • –Building/fire codes are set statewide, but whether an ADU is allowed is local zoning.
  • –SB 304 would have mandated ADUs. It passed the Virginia Senate in 2024 but was continued/left in House committee (i.e., not enacted statewide)

What's allowed on your lot?

These are the municipality-wide rules. What's allowed on a specific property also depends on state laws, setbacks, floor area ratio, lot coverage, environmental constraints, topography, and other property-specific factors. Search your address on FutureLot to see what's allowed on your property.

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Is your property eligible for an ADU?

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